The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-12-10

nhlSs XIII yourself, uit' ncouHuItl, Dub
90 onw Then horrible oath burst
from him. "Ah! the Infamous coward,
he has sat down" In fact the boy.
whose head, till now, he had seen pro-
jecting above a wheat field, had disap-
pearcd, as if he had fallen. But in a
moment his head came into view again;
finally he was lost behind the hedges,
and the Captain saw him no more.
Ho then flew downstairs; it was
raining bullets; the rooms were encum-
bercd with the wounded; some Of them
reelcd about like drunken men, catch
ing at the furniture; walls and floor
were spattcred with blood; cOrpses
were lying across the doors; the lieu
tenants arm had been broken by
ball; every thing was in a whirl Of
smoke and dust
"Couragcr' yelled the Captain.
"Stick TO your posts, Relief is coming!
Courage for "A little while lOnger!'
their contortcd faces loomcd through
the smoke, above the rattle Of the firing
rose their savage cries, insulting, de-
manding surrender, threatening
slaughter Occasionally soldier,
terrOr-stricken, rctreated from the
window; the sergeant drove him back.
But the defenders fire was slackening;
their faces showed di.couragemcnt; it
was impossible to prclong the resist
ance. Suddenly the firing Of the Aus
trians slackencd, and laundering
voice shouted, first in German, then in
Italian: ..-.y.,.,...,..,s..
"Surrcnder.' '''''''"
"No" howled the Captain from
window. And the firing began again
steadicr and fcrcer on both sides More
soldiers fell. Already more than one
window was witho.lt defenders. The
fatal moment was close at hand. The
Captain was muttcring between his
teeth in n broken voice: "Theyre not
coming! They're not coming! and
he ran furiously about twisting his
sabcr in his clenchcd hand, resolved TO
die, when a sergeant, coming down
from the garrett cried In a loud voice:
"They'rc coming!'
"They're comlngW the Captain re-
pcatcd, with shout of joy. At this
shout all, unhurt, wounded, scrgeants
and officers, rushed TO the windows,
and once more resistance grew fierce,
A fow moments after, sort of uncer-
tainty and beginning of disorder were
remarked in the enemy. Immediately,
in great haste, the Captain formed
n small company down stairs,
with fixed bayonets ready to
make n sally. Then he flew up
stairs again. lie had scarcely got up
there when they heard a hurried tread.
accompanied by formidable hurrah,
and from the windows they saw adj
vancing through the smoke the two
cOrncrcd hats of the Italian carabinoers,
n squadron dashing along at full speed,
and the flashing of sword blades
brandshod in the air. descending on the
heads, shoulders and backs of the
enemy. Then the little troop rushed
out Of the door with lowered bayonets;
the enemy wavered, became disorder
/ ed and took to flight; the ground re-
! mained clear, the house was free, and
n short time after the height was oc-
cupicd by two battalions of infantry
| and two cannon.
Tho Captain, with his remaining
soldiers. rcjoincd his regiment, fought
again, and was slightly wounded in
the left hand by n glancing ball, in the
last bayonot charge. The day ended
in victory for us.
But the day after the fight having
/ begun again, the Italians were over
whclmcd i'm spite of brave resist
ancc, 10y the superior number Of the
Austrians. and on the morning of the
26th thcy were compelled TO retreat
sorrowfully toward the Mincio.
The Captain, although wounded,
marched on foot with his soldiers, who
were tired and silent, and toward sun
set reached Goito on the Mincio, and
Immediately sought out his lieutenant,
who had been picked up, with broken
arm, by our ambulance. and who had
arrived there first. He was directed to
q church, where field hospital had
hastily been installed. He went there.
The church was full of wounded, re-
clining on two rows OF beds and mat
trCsses stretched on the floor; two doc
tors and various assistants were anX-
iously going and coming, and stiiled
cries and groans were heard.
On entering the Captain stopped
and looked about him, in search of
his officer just then he heard faint
voice close by, calling to him:
"Captain!'
He turned around; il was the drum
mer boy; he was stretched on n trestle
bed, covered up to the chest 10y coarse
window curtain with little red and
white squares, with his arms out; he
was pale and thin, but with his eyes
still sparkling, like two black gems. q
care you hcrc?' the Captain asked
him, in an astonished, but stern man
ner bravo! You did your dutyH'
IL did what | could answered the
drummer boy.
Have you been wounded?' said the
Captain, looking around for his officer
in the beds near 10y.
What would you havcP' said the
boy, who took courage to speak from
the proud pleasure of being wounded
for the first time, aud without which he